Why is living out the Christian life such a challenge for believers? We live in a sinful world and we are sinful, even when we are believers in Jesus. The Scriptures calls us sheep because we share many of the characteristics of sheep. Here are just a few.
- Sheep are not very intelligent.
- Sheep respond to the Shepherd’s voice
- Sheep get easily lost.
- Sheep are weak and need a shepherd.
- Sheep become restless.
- Sheep cannot get up on their own. If they fall down, they must have a shepherd lift them up or they will die.
Because we are like sheep, we need to depend on our Good Shepherd, Jesus, to guide and direct us through life. As sheep, we must be dependent on our Shepherd so we can carry out the plans the Lord has for us.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica to commend and to encourage them along their spiritual journey. Life for these believers had not been easy, but they have learned to depend on the Good Shepherd. By depending on Jesus, they were able to turn from their wicked ways and be transformed by God’s word.
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, 9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 1 Thes. 1:6-10 [1]
How are you personally like sheep described earlier? What insight did this give you about your own need for the Good Shepherd Jesus to live out the Christian life?
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” [2]
Lord, help me be led by your Holy Spirit. Amen.
To hear more about Paul’s second mission trip, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/mission-trip-two-radio-show/the-power-and-hope-of-gods-word
[1, 2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (1 Th 1:6–10, Romans 8:14). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.